Additional Spectrum: Court to pass order on Oct 15

AMN /

The Special 2G court would pronounce on October 15, 2015 its order on framing of charges in the 2002 additional spectrum allocation case in which former Telecom Secretary Shyamal Ghosh and 3 telecom firms are accused. The Special CBI Judge O P Saini, who was scheduled to pass the order today on framing of charges as well as order on the bail plea of Ghosh, deferred it saying the order is not yet ready.

Ghosh and three telecom companies – Hutchison Max (P) Ltd, Sterling Cellular Ltd and Bharti Cellular Ltd – were charge sheeted by CBI in the case relating to allocation of additional spectrum that allegedly led to loss of Rs 846.44 crore to exchequer.

CBI had alleged that Ghosh had given additional spectrum to telecom firms at throwaway prices. Ghosh had countered this argument, saying private firms were not the only beneficiaries of surplus radio waves, but state-run MTNL and BSNL had also benefited. The accused telecom firms also countered CBI’s loss theory and said they were allotted spare radio waves which caused gain to the government.